BLAME SCHOOLS, NOT AI VICTIM OF CONSUMERISM? CANADA’S COUNTRY MUSIC
With the beginning of the fall term, we’ve all been skimming through—or, hopefully, at least opening—that fresh wave of crisp, new syllabi. And as always, that familiar policy of academic integrity and AI usage prohibition greets us right near the bottom (which we typically skip).
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TikTok’s success arguably relies on oversharing with an audience that is eager to pry. Being in the spotlight on TikTok can be as haunting as it is rewarding. For example, the white boy of the month explores an internet-wide obsession with celebrity crushes by TikTok users.
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Country music has a long history in Canada, having originated from Appalachian folk music and African American blues. The genre was popularized by those who played the fiddle, known as fiddlers, and helped country music gain recognition in areas like British Columbia, the Maritime provinces and parts of Ontario.
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UTMSU President Andrew Park answers 13 questions on what students can expect this year
Sophie Minot Contributer
The University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU) has kicked off the 2025 aca demic year with a host of exciting events and changes. Orientation is coming to an end, a new destressor space is available for students, buses have increased hours, new bidets are being installed, the “Client Choice Method” has been enacted at the Food Centre, Bill 33 has emerged as a serious threat to students, there are new bursaries being launched, and more. In the lead-up to the 2025-26 academic semester, The Medium interviewed UTMSU President Andrew Park, who fielded questions on behalf of his executive team.
1. How do you plan to help students advocate for what they need? Do you have a system for students to communicate their needs to you and the student union?
Andrew Park: Our main goal is to understand and engage with students, reflect their needs, their priorities, and their concerns, and advocate on their behalf. There is no better form of communication than speaking face-to-face and connecting with the student body, which is why we have our daily outreach table—a space for students to engage with us directly. We also have various surveys, encompassing several advocacy efforts and services offered by the UTMSU, which are accessible on our social media as well as the outreach table to provide students with an opportunity to provide feedback. The UTMSU office is always open, as are our email inboxes, for any drop-ins and questions, and we encourage students to always reach out.
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Venus as Torpedo A Journey of Complexity and Simplicity
Yusuf
Larizza-Ali Arts Editor
V isual art present in art galleries such as sculptures is a great way to communicate complex ideas nonverbally through the use of material and design. On August 16, 2025 the Art Gallery of Ontario unveiled a new exhibit titled Venus as Torpedo created by Kanai (Blood) Nation sculptor Faye Heavyshield. The exhibit is based on a previous original installation from 1995 which has been re-staged nearly three decades later offering audiences the chance to revisit one of Heavyshield’s most impressive displays of memory, language and presence. The fact that this exhibit is being recreated at the AGO is significant in itself for marking HeavyShields first solo exhibit at the
AGO, one of Canada’s largest and most popular art institutions.
This context results in HeavyShield’s work speaking not only to her own cultural narrative but opens the door for greater recognition towards Indigenous female artists within the Canadian art community. Venus as Torpedo demonstrates both continuity and resurgence, matching Heavyshields artistic style involving minimal aesthetics and a deep engagement with Blackfoot cultural traditions.
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Tyler Medeiros Contributer
On March 23rd, 2025, the UTM Men’s Indoor Soccer team captured their second successive TriCampus championship, following up on their trophy-winning outdoor season just one semester earlier. Now, as a new season looms ahead, the Eagles must find new ways to keep their success alive as they chase the first men’s soccer three-peat in campus history.
Catching up with Coach On August 26, I sat down with Assistant Coach Kevin Iyamabo to discuss the team’s recent successes and their
expectations for the upcoming outdoor and indoor seasons. Last year was Iyamabo’s first opportunity with the team in a coaching role. He had previously been a key defender on the men’s soccer team, but was never able to lift the championship during his playing career. Despite helping the team win both the outdoor and indoor championships last year, Iyamabo has doubts that the upcoming season may not be as successful.
>> UTM SOCCER continues on page 10
Photo by Miya Kwan
02 News
UTMSU President Andrew Park answers 13 questions on what students can expect this year
Sophie Minot Contributer
2Whatare the union’s plans for the 2025-26 academic year and the services that the union provides to students?
Andrew Park: The UTMSU will continue to do the work it has done for years—providing essential services to meet the unmet needs of the students such as the Health & Dental Plan, U-Pass, Professional headshots, and Printing, among others; advocating on behalf of the student body through campaigns such as Fight the Fees, Transit and Housing advocacy, Extend CR/NCR, SAC policy amendments, and more; and programs such as the newly revamped Here to Help program, the Academic Mentorship Program, the Bursary program, and the Food Centre.
We have worked to continuously improve the programs, campaigns, and services offered and run by the UTMSU. For instance, we opened a new destressor space in the Student Centre where students can book study spaces, play games, relax with friends, and take a break between classes.
Most recently, we collaborated with the working group Bidets@UofT to install bidets in the bathrooms at the Student Centre. In addition to the many other bursaries we manage here at the UTMSU, we also aim to launch a bursary to support both Queer and Trans and Gender NonComforming students dealing with financial hardship. We plan on implementing this bursary to bridge the notable gap that we observed in support for Queer and Trans students and their access to education.
We have a lot of ideas that we have been working on throughout the Summer session, including SAC policy amendments, World University Service Canada (WUSC) pro gram improvements, advocating for better multi-faith spaces, Free-dinner Fridays during exam periods, preparing for the Academic Mentorship Program, and many more. We will be launching all of these campaigns in the coming months, and look forward to engaging with the student body in the coming year.
Bulk Purchasing networks, through which we purchase merchandise for the students such as agendas, notebooks, and water bottles.
We interact with the CFS-O on a much more frequent basis. We hosted the annual CFS-O Skills Symposium on our campus, and at the Ontario Annual General Meeting earlier this month, the executive team met student leaders from across the province and participated in discussions that will shape the future of the student movement. We are currently working closely with the CFS-O office for our Hands Off Our Education! campaign, which was launched to fight against Bill-33. Representatives from CFS-O have provided our team with campaign training and materials, and come to UTM to conduct outreach on a regular basis.
5. What was the process for getting weekend hours for the 110 University Express?
Andrew Park: The process involved extensive conversations between the UTMSU, MiWay, and the City of Mississauga. For years, students have voiced concerns about the absence of weekend service for the 110 University Express. The UTMSU’s recent survey strongly highlighted this demand, and over the past six months, we have been actively lobbying and advocating to ensure weekend service is added. Our VP External, Rajas Dhamija, plans to strengthen the data this year and continue the lobbying orts to make transit more accessible to students.
3. What was the campaign like, and why do you think you and your team were so successful?
Andrew Park: Campaigning was stressful, typical of any kind of election. What made our team so successful was our discipline and bond. We were on the floor for hours on end speaking with students, campaigning for our goals for the year, and asking what improvements they wanted to see on our Campus. It was a very eye-opening experience, gave us a lot of perspective, and helped us to envision what we wanted to achieve for our time in the UTMSU.
We truly believe that our campaign was successful because of our passion and our ideas. We put a lot of effort into researching what was feasible and what was important to students. Many of the campaign points that we ran on were the result of conversations with UTM students and past experiences with campaigns and services on campus. Our conversations with students also showed us how important our advocacy efforts are in improving students’ university experience. Now that we have reached this point, we are working tirelessly to achieve as many of our promises as possible.
4. How does the UTMSU interact with the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), including the Canadian and Ontario (CFS-O) branch?
Andrew Park: The UTMSU is Local 109 of the CFS, and one of the many student unions across Canada. The national office provides us with access through the Ethical
6. When do you make the budget, and how is it decided?
Andrew Park: At UTMSU, the budgeting process begins once the new executive team is elected and ratified by the Board of Directors, when the VP Internal presents a preliminary budget based on the previous year’s operating budget to estimate each line item.
Rui (Owen) Zhang, our VP Internal will present the operating budget at our Annual General Meeting in November. The Annual General Meeting is open to all students, with each student holding one vote and up to 10 proxies. This ensures transparency and that students are aware of the financial processes of the Union.
Any large expenses for the Union, such as repairs to the Student Centre, major events such as Orientation and the Montreal Reading Week Trip, both of which are organized by our VP Campus Life, Lois Ogunnubi, and new services are also presented and passed through the Board of Directors.
7. Can anyone go to a board meeting? Are board meetings where the budget is decided?
Andrew Park: Yes, anyone is welcome to attend board meetings as a guest. They take place in the UTMSU’s Green Room on the first floor, typically on the last Friday of each month. Once again, the budget is presented three times - the preliminary budget to the incoming Board of Directors in the beginning of the year, the operating budget at the Annual General Meeting in November, and the final, revised budget to the outgoing Board of Directors.
8. Do you have a vision for what a partnership with the Mississauga city council and a partnership with the Toronto Youth Cabinet would bring to UTM students?
Andrew Park: The Toronto Youth Cabinet (TYC) is an advocacy group representing more than 623,000 youth in Toronto. Many of their campaigns align with ours, including transit, housing, employment, and education. Although they have been on hiatus, we plan to meet with TYC representatives later this month. While the UTMSU has not previously worked with the TYC, discussing our respective goals will enable
Editor | Aaron Calpito news@themedium.ca
Photo Credits: Melody Zhou
Photo Credits: Melody Zhou
The City of Mississauga and the councillors we work with aim to make Mississauga better for all its residents, which includes the students of UTM. We have had many fruitful conversations with Council members and Mayor Parrish, where we emphasized the key concerns of our student body, such as housing, transit, co-op opportunities, and culture and diversity. Last year, our VP External presented an extensive study on the transit needs of UTM students—the result of a year’s worth of research and data collection—to the Transit Advisory Committee. We aim to build on the work done in the previous academic year and advocate for more improvements.
Our work with the City has led to productive conversations with representatives from MiWay, Metrolinx, and UTM administration about solutions to the congestion and accessibility issues faced by commuter students, possible bus shelter improvements, and opportunities for growth. Our vision is to collaborate with the City to better the transit experience and alleviate the effects of the housing crisis on UTM students. In that vein, a partnership with the City means enhanced collaboration and better sharing of resources and data.
9. How will you create affordable food options for students?
Andrew Park: Food prices, options, and accessibility on campus have been a consistent concern that has been brought forward to us by students, with many emphasizing that they have had to prioritize paying for their education over paying for their daily meals or groceries. Many forgo purchasing their meals on campus to pay for their textbooks, tuition, and other educational expenses.
As a solution to this, the UTMSU has maintained our Food Centre—a space in the Student Centre where we stock dry groceries, food supplies, and other essential items like hygiene supplies. Both Miatah McCallum, our VP Equity, and our Food Centre Coordinator oversee the operations of the Food Centre. On a monthly basis, deliveries from Mississauga Food Bank are made to our Food Centre. All students are able to access this space, free of charge.
We have recently renovated the space according to the Client Choice Method, which gives students more agency when choosing items and reduces the stigma of using such resources. We will also be restarting Free Breakfast Wednesdays—one of our most popular services—in the Fall.
Some of our additional work includes connecting with external food vendors to provide cheaper options for students, getting discounts for restaurants in the UTM area, and introducing free dinners during exam periods. Addressing food insecurity is one of our core campaigns and we aim to continue advocating for healthy and affordable food for students.
10. What inspired you to want to increase athletic opportunities?
Andrew Park: I’ve been an athlete my entire life, starting with football (soccer) as a child, wrestling in high school, and now various disciplines of martial arts. Sports builds community, discipline, and lessons that cannot be taught inside the classroom. Physical health is essential to a students’ well-being, and as such, all students should be encouraged to and have the opportunity to participate in athletics, one way or another. Currently, we are in conversations with the RAWC to explore the possibility of introducing a bursary program to assist student athletes with financial need.
11. Are there any accomplishments by past student union administrations that have inspired your team?
Andrew Park: The UTMSU, along with other student unions across Canada, has achieved many accomplishments that form the foundation of our campaigns and advocacy efforts each year. For example, our CR/NCR campaign, led by our VP University Affairs, Manaal Fatima, builds on past successes. These include the UTMSU’s campaign to extend the final course drop deadline to the last day of classes and the Arts and Science Students’ Union’s successful push to extend it even further during the pandemic.
Our transit advocacy and housing initiatives also stem from years of consistent effort and past successes. Likewise, our initiatives to raise awareness of and address food insecurity—such as continuing Free Breakfast Wednesdays, providing free dinners during exam periods, and expanding the capacity of our Food Centre—are inspired by the significant number of students who rely on and benefit from these services.
12. Why should students be passionate about advocating against Bill 33?
Andrew Park: Bill 33 is an attack on the entire education sector. Specifically for postsecondary students, it will undermine the pathway programs and other application programs that are available to equity-deserving students to access education.
The bill increases unnecessary government oversight of democratically instated student initiatives and services, such as the University’s levy groups, academic societies, UPass, our Health and Dental insurance, and many more. It is also another attempt at the Student Choice Initiative—a policy introduced by the Ford government in 2019 and struck down by the Divisional Court the same year—which claimed that ancillary fees, rather than tuition, made education expensive.
Education has been chronically underfunded for decades in the province, with international students bearing the cost of education for far too long. The government needs to invest more money into education and not reduce the core essential services that students need to make education accessible to all. It is extremely crucial to fight against this bill, given that students across Ontario are experiencing food insecurity, underfunded mental health resources, and increased housing costs. Bill 33 is a threat to these very services, which student unions have provided by filling gaps which the government fails to address. Bill 33 threatens the services that student unions have worked tirelessly to establish.
13. Why does UTM need a student union, and what is a student union capable of?
Andrew Park: At the core of any Union is the principle of strength in numbers, and historically, the role of student unions has been to build community and advocate for student rights. The UTMSU hosts events, provides services, and runs campaigns to meet the needs of students. The UTMSU hosts events on campus to provide opportunities for students to engage with each other and make friends as they enter a new and unfamiliar environment. Student unions provide funding to clubs and societies, and encourage students to build a strong sense of community through their talents, interests, and cultures.
The student union is a reflection of the change in the student body. Over the years, the UTMSU has identified the gaps in the services provided to students, and we have established several key services that students depend on for a barrier-free education that is accessible to all.
Historically, student unions have been at the forefront of social justice campaigns. From advocating against the South African apartheid to calling for universities and governments to divest from the genocide in Palestine, students have collectively fought for change. The UTMSU actively engages in campaigns that champion student rights on campus and beyond. The students united will never be defeated.
We invite our members to present a united front to bring forth change and shape the future we want to see, for the students, by the students.
U of T ranks 25th among universities worldwide
Aqeel Shahid Ullah Contributer
ShanghaiRanking Consultancy has ranked the University of Toronto as the top Canadian university in its 2025 academic ranking.
ShanghaiRanking Consultancy recently updated its annual Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), assessing over 2,500 universities to determine the top 1,000. Among these many respected institutions, the University of Toronto (U of T) ranked 25th worldwide, one place higher than its 2024 ranking.
First published in June 2003, the ARWU has been continuously updated on a yearly basis. Although it originally evaluated the global standings of Chinese universities, it has since gained a lot of attention from universities and the media internationally.
The ARWU is based on six indicators, consisting of “the number of alumni and staff winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals, number of highly cited researchers selected by Clarivate, number of articles published in journals of Nature and Science, number of articles indexed in Science Citation Index - Expanded and Social Sciences Citation Index, and per capita performance of a university,” according to its website. U of T’s higher ranking compared to last year’s is largely due to Professor Geoffrey Hinton receiving the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2024 for his vital contributions to artificial intelligence.
The ARWU also displays the global rank of a university in specific subjects. For example, U of T is ranked 13th worldwide in mathematics and 17th in computer science. According to the ARWU, the university’s best-ranked subjects consist of sociology, medical science, and public health, ranking second, fifth, and seventh worldwide, respectively. After the release of the 2025 ARWU, The Medium interviewed U of T students and staff about their takes on the new ranking. One second-year student, who asked to remain anonymous, stated they came to U of T specifically due to its high global ranking, with their decision being influenced by Professor Hinton’s recent Nobel Prize win.
Darren Ng, a third-year psychology student from Hong Kong, stated that while
Opinion
Blame Schools, Not AI
Sahrish Mirza Contributor
he personally did not care much about the ranking, his parents certainly did. He also added that these rankings mattered much more to Eastern job markets than Western ones.
On the other hand, Antoine Gagnon, a freshman, also said that the ranking did not matter much when he chose to study at U of T.
Colin Hill, an English professor at U of T, felt that the ARWU and other kinds of university rankings were artificial and not that meaningful, saying that they did not affect his decision to teach at U of T and likely did not affect other professors’ decisions either.While the ARWU clearly has a broad influence, the general population seems largely unaware of it. When questioned about U of T’s global rankings, most of the interviewees thought that it was about the QS World University Rankings rather than the ARWU.
Regardless, many universities have cited the ARWU in their reports and included their rankings in promotional material, with a 2005 survey by The Economist stating that it was the most-used university ranking at the time.
While it may not be as influential as it once was, the ARWU is still an important benchmark among universities due to its precise data-driven approach and emphasis on research results.
It is unproductive to punish students without regard for the systemic pressures that push them towards AI.
With the beginning of the fall term, we’ve all been skimming through—or, hopefully, at least opening—that fresh wave of crisp, new syllabi. And as always, that familiar policy of academic integrity and AI usage prohibition greets us right near the bottom (which we typically skip).
It’s not news to anyone at the University of Toronto that the use of generative AI among students has been on the uptick. Late night essays, overdue problem sets—and let’s be honest, it’s pretty tempting to offload all of the work and stress when that 11:59 p.m. due date flashes in front of your eyes. The last thing you’re thinking about is integrity when making your Program Of Study (POSt) is on the line. But this is not lost on the institutions themselves. Canadian universities have rushed to police AI, and some blame this increasing trend on the laziness or dishonesty of the students—after all, how hard can it really be to submit an assignment on your own? But have any of them paused to consider the role of the academic system?
Think back to the last few times you wrote a test: how often did you ask your peers, “What was your grade?” rather than, “Hey, wasn’t learning about DNA replication pretty cool?” Grades have always been the currency in school, paramount to actually understanding anything. In a system like this, it’s not surprising that students turn to a tool that can access countless data in a matter of seconds and generate the product their educators are demanding.
Illustrated by Sara Li
Photo by Miya Kwan
And if grades are the currency, assignments are the transactions—made to be rigid, standardized, and designed for efficiency. That’s one of the reasons why the rise of AI says more about the flawed design of assessments than it does about a lack of academic integrity. The British Educational Research Association (BERA) criticizes the university assessment strategies in place, calling them obsolete—they reward output while discouraging critical thought. It’s a design rooted in capitalistic ideals where product is favoured over progress. After all, our current model of schools was designed to train factory workers to become obedient and agreeable. It’s unsurprising that students are assessed based on compliance rather than originality when they’re expected to become numbers in the workforce. And the thing about AI is that it is very
good at compliance—in fact, it is made pretty much just for that.
While it is necessary that students take responsibility for cheating, it is unproductive to punish them without regard for the systemic pressures that push them towards it.
It is also worth considering whether or not the nature of these assignments reflects the course content effectively. If students immediately revert to using AI to complete assignments rather than attempting them on their own, it begs the question: are the students lazy, or are the assignments not prompting actual input? If the assignments can be done by a machine that simply spits out answers and requires little genuine
Sudan as an afterthought
For two-and-a-half years, Sudan has been referred to as the “forgotten war” by its people—not because of the inadequate media representation or its social irrelevancy, but as an accusation of global complicity and silence.
For over two years, Sudan has witnessed the displacement of more than 15 million people, 24.6 million people are experiencing famine levels of starvation, more than 30 million people are in dire need of humanitarian aid—two-third of which must access a collapsed healthcare system—and more than 150,000 have been killed by the war and its devastation as of July 2025.
The war in Sudan, however, is not a product of overnight civil tension, not a footnote in social activism, and nor should it be reduced as a statistical tragedy in global politics.
What is happening in Sudan?
In 2013, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) was established as a paramilitary group in the Darfur region, west of the capital city, Khartoum. Initially formed as aid to the government against the people protesting President Omar al Bashir’s three-decade rule, who rose to power in 1989, the RSF soon demanded an incorporation of the militia as a new force in the state army.
In 2019, following the tensions of the Arab Spring, born in northern Africa, the Sudanese people formally took to the streets to call for an end to Bashir’s dictatorial rule. The fertile state of corruption presented an opportunity for the RSF leader, Gen Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo “Hemedti”, to rise to power.
The security of the RSF as puppeteers of the Sudanese government was not coincidental—for by then, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had become a key supplier in its dominion: an open secret that the Gulf state continues to deny, despite UN reports proving the UAE to be an invested foreign player in the devastation. Regardless, the UAE’s involvement with Sudan dates back to the 1970s, where agricultural investments in the African nation were established, among “smuggling networks and illicit trade routes”, which allowed for the UAE to control mass economic and political operations in Sudan.
The backing of the RSF by the UAE also resides in the fact that the paramilitary group is laced in a history of tribalism, favouring Arab tribes in Sudan— with international records indicating a deliberate targeting of non-Arab tribes as a part of a grander genocidal project.
By 2021, the RSF dissolved progress towards a democratically elected government in Sudan. State control races among the RSF and the Sudanese
Armed Forces (SAF) eventually resulted in violent attacks, blockades, and mass bombardments in April 2023. Since, sexual and genderbased violence, famine, and mass murder has been rampantly growing and targeting the Sudanese people.
Sudan is not a footnote in your activism
While global cries for Palestine have become rightfully more vocal—yet, still insufficient— and collective liberation has encountered a renaissance in activism trends, the world’s largest refugee and humanitarian crisis has been diluted into a mere footnote. Sudan has become a token that performs to an audience of wokeism.
thought, it implies that the assessment scheme isn’t doing a lot for the students in terms of learning, understanding, or skill development. If schools placed more emphasis on free thought and process, AI would not have to replace the student.
Has AI broken higher education?
Not necessarily—it might have just exposed some of the cracks. Until universities value curiosity over compliance and growth over grades, students will keep looking for shortcuts. And maybe we’ll stop asking, “What did you get?” and start asking, “What did you learn?”
Although well-intended, commentaries on Sudan in passing are a performative and lazy way to say, “See, I care about all crises!” It is inauthentic and ineffective.The concern for tokenism isn’t unique to Sudan; it litters African crises, just like it silences the voices for Congo now. Subconsciously, advocating for Sudan today is riddled with fears of redirecting attention from Gaza.
I ask activists to cease from treating Sudan as a distraction. The lives of the Sudanese people are not a distraction. Time after time, African and Black lives are treated as secondary in the concern for humanitarianism. Because the world has desensitized us to see a starving Sudanese kid, not as a humanitarian issue, but as the tragedy that is Africa.
Now, I do not direct this blame solely to the West (although, I acknowledge that it is the West and its colonial campaigns that have reinforced racial inequity across the globe), but it is, nevertheless, a rather prevalent epidemic that also resides within Arab and Muslim communities alike.
When Arab and Muslim communities occupy discourse by prioritising their racial or religious identities, rather than acknowledging issues of racial inequity, they, as Dr Amir Azraki states, “foster a form of colour blindness that effectively denies… the complexities of racism in [the] communities.” And I personally have witnessed the ways in which both communities have reacted to the crisis. For long, they have distanced themselves from the AfroArab identity and predominately Islamic culture of Sudan, allowing for the luxury of remembering the Sudanese people as a footnote instead of creating a proximity to the crisis through their identity, as they may have done with Palestine.
There is also a reluctance to speak on Sudan by the Arab and Muslim community when one of the pri-
mary perpetrators of the violence happens to be an Arab and Muslim state: the UAE. The romanticization of the UAE, both as a luxury touristic destination and safe haven for Muslim visitors globally, has only resulted in overshadowing the brutal realities of the country’s economy of violence.
The point is that when approximating identity with humanitarianism, advocacy becomes transactional—civic and global organisation becomes reliant on personal interest, rather than the livelihood of the Sudanese people, and our humanity is the cost.
Act now for Sudan
We have established that silence is an act of complicity, but so are the performative mentions of Sudan as an afterthought in activism. Note that you should be able to speak on Sudan without associating it as a distraction from other genocides.
Amplifying the voices of Sudanese reporters and activists is an essential process in shifting the lazy narrative that “Sudan does not have enough coverage” to materialise as a humanitarian crisis. Pages on Instagram like @BSonBlast, @SudanIsNoteAFootnote, @Red_Maat, and @AlMigdadHassan0 are among the many that are reporting live on the war.
And take substantial actions to boycott. You cannot claim to stand for Sudan if you are complicit in funding the genocide, like normalising the UAE. Sudan is under attack and the UAE is funding it. The calls to end normalisation, however, does not extend to the Sudanese people residing in the UAE, for their resilience under a genocidal state has been overlooked by global activists.
The “forgotten war” of Sudan will only stand deliberately forgotten as long as voices for the crisis remain muffled.
Yasmine Benabderrahmane Opinion Editor
Illustrated by Adanna Scott
06 Features
Are you, too, a victim of consumerism?
Mari Khan Contributer
Overcoming consumerism isn’t just about spending less; it requires building an in ternal “immune system” that protects us from its constant pressures and manipulations.
One could also argue that influencer-driven brands encourage overconsumption. People often make purchases based on emotions, and many influencers capitalize on this by cultivating a “tight-knit” community and building trust with their audience. As a result, their followers can be easily persuaded to buy products. Younger demographics, in particular, are highly susceptible to these effects.
Examples include TikTok stars such as the D’Amelio sisters with their makeup line collaboration with Morphe, and Addison Rae’s skincare brand. While the long-term success of these brands remains uncertain, their initial launches generated massive attention, driving hype and encouraging overconsumption.
Similar to the purchases of Labubus, many consumers who claim to not want these influencers’ products still end up buying them. For instance, people often create videos online debating whether an influencer’s brand is worth its price and reputation. While these consumers may present themselves as indifferent to product trends, they are still actively participating in the culture of consumption.
Walking into a trap
Moreover, according to Kadence International, a worldwide market research agency, marketing phrases like “self-expression,” “belonging,” and other psychological tactics used by companies also drive overconsumption.
I remember in high school, I learned about fashion stores’ methods in getting customers to purchase more than they intended to. For example, fashion stores structure their product layout such that the sales sections are in the back. As a result, customers are forced to walk through enticing displays that showcase new collections as they make their way to the sale section. This is meant to encourage customers to buy full-priced merchandise, in addition to discounted products.
Illustrated by Fabiha Ruthmila
In April 2024, the Labubu doll’s popularity soared. Now, the Blind Box craze is also trending. Pop Mart drops sell out instantly, and online communities are created to share hacks to help people get their hands on a Labubu.
Many stores sell Labubu, even if it has no relation to their product lines. For example, a restaurant in Waterloo hosts monthly giveaways for Labubu blindboxes, just to take advantage of this product’s trending reviews.
The Blind Box craze has evoked a massive response from the public. While many are joining the trend, some are confused by it. Either way, under the blindbox hype, there is a deep-rooted societal issue: overconsumption.
Guelph-Humber instructor Charlie Janthur explained that Blind Boxes offer an “instant gratification” for consumers. Jing Wan, a professor at the University of Guelph, shared similar viewpoints. Professor Wan elaborated that Labubus also led to overconsumption. Consumers are purchasing Labubus “just for the rush, but they might not even want the doll they get,” according to CBC News.
Is social media the culprit?
Instant gratification in purchases is a driving force for retail therapy and overconsumption. Social media purchasing platforms like TikTok Shop are an example of a platform that is set up to encourage instant gratification with trend-driven, convenient purchases.
As soon as customers are influenced, purchases can be made instantly, without consumers having to leave the app. On the other hand, social media platforms that don’t come with the convenience of in-app purchase are also driving forces for overconsumption.
For instance, an article from overconsumption.org, a platform that dedicates itself to addressing the issue of overconsumption, states that the influencer’s endorsement of a product can increase consumers’ willingness to purchase by up to 50 per cent.
This does not only apply to clothing stores, but warehouses like Costco also use similar tactics. While Costco is known for their cheap rotisserie chicken, it turns out there’s more behind a good deal. Similar to the clothing stores’ sale sections being placed in the back, the rotisserie chicken is also placed at the back of the store. As customers navigate the store for the cheap chicken, they are tempted to purchase other items on their way.
Do women really consume more?
Overconsumption is arguably driven by companies’ marketing strategies, which may help explain the stereotype that women are more likely to overconsume. Throughout history, women have been more involved in making purchasing decisions for their households. According to the Business Development Bank of Canada, Canadian women are likely to do 50 per cent more housework than men. With this in line with companies’ selling strategies, it follows that marketing schemes are targeted more towards women.
However, according to a journal article from the Oxford Journal of Consumer Research, despite the stereotype of women being the cause of overconsumption, they are also believed to be leaders in the underconsumption movement.
Since being environmentally friendly is stereotyped as a “feminine activity,” women are more likely to promote environmentally friendly purchasing habits. Like consuming cheaper, second-hand products or reusing products, which encourages considerate purchases instead of instinctive buys.
So, how do I tackle consumerism?
Regardless of our gender, economic status, or interests, overconsumption has found its way into our lives in some form. As consumers, it is our responsibility to take action to avoid falling into the trap of consumerism. Simple efforts, such as being more present in our daily lives, distinguishing between our “wants” and “needs,” and regularly organizing our space, can help us identify what we truly require. These practices can prevent impulse purchases and reduce the influence of
Book and podcasts for your next intellectual adventure
Zainab Khalil, Zainab Hassan and Juhi Kosamia Contributer
If you’re looking for entertainment that challenges your mind, these books and podcasts are perfect for engaging and sharpening your thinking.
The beauty and sciences of content creation Zainab Khalil
For the first time in a long while, I found myself curious about the details of the media that surrounds us. I wasn’t doomscrolling through social media or consuming content out of habit. Instead, I started thinking about how the social media industry works.
I’ve loved YouTube since I was a kid. It was the first platform I ever used on an electronic device, aside from the television. It is also one of the first platforms that made creativity feel more accessible. Anyone could pick up a camera, share their interests with the world and connect with like-minded people.
But over time, with the rise of short-form content and social media algorithms repeatedly pushing the same creators on our feeds, the content started to feel redundant and dimmed the spark that made YouTube, YouTube.
This changed when I discovered podcasts about YouTube itself. Shows like Colin & Samir, and Waveform by MKBHD reintroduced me to the magic of content creation.
Colin and Samir’s show focuses on learning more about some of the biggest creators on the platform, their backgrounds, and behind the scenes of being a creator. From making thumbnails, writing titles, to building an audience and adhering to the algorithm, they discuss the balance between technicalities, business, passion, and storytelling.
On the other hand, the Waveform podcast, hosted by Marques Brownlee (MKBHD), Andrew Manganelli, and David Imel, is one of the biggest technological channels on the YouTube platform. The speakers explore new technologies, production and thought processes behind their videos. While it dives into the complexities of technology, it is structured in a way that is easy to follow.
The podcast also asks trivia questions throughout each episode to keep the audience guessing. Answers are revealed at the end of the episodes, making their content fun and engaging to watch.
Both shows led me to new creators that I probably wouldn’t have come across otherwise. I find it fascinating how creators can take their passions— whether food, technology, comedy, or fashion—and transform them into communities built through storytelling and editing.
Listening to these podcasts inspired me to appreciate the amount of work and thought process that goes into storytelling and content creation. I would
recommend these podcasts if you are interested in content creation.
Which historical figure has daddy issues?
Zainab Hassan
This summer, I found myself on the road more often than not. Wanting to avoid the headaches that accompany my attempts to read in the car, I decided to try listening to podcasts instead. This endeavour resulted in a big déjà vu, as I stumbled across the podcast You’re Dead To Me, hosted by Greg Jenner.
Greg Jenner was one of the historical consultants for Horrible Histories, a British TV series that teaches history through comedy. Having spent most of my school years under the British curriculum, I had Horrible Histories inflicted on me at least twice a day. It was in my history class, English class, and during my lunch break. And now, apparently, it was in my podcast.
Call it nostalgia or Stockholm syndrome, I just couldn’t stop listening to Greg Jenner
sticking to what he does best, Jenner combines comedy and history in You’re Dead To Me. In each episode, he brings on a comedian and a historian to explore a new, fascinating, and funny facet of history. If you want to learn how Alexandre Dumas’ complicated relationship with his father shaped The Three Musketeers, why clay is as foundational to language as it is to architecture, or why Boudicca isn’t the feminist icon she’s often made out to be— this podcast is for you.
This podcast treats history not as an academic subject, but a conversation that everyone should take part in and enjoy, without minimizing the weight or significance of the topic itself. More often than not, people only engage with history from an academic and intellectual standpoint, rather than simply satisfying their curiosity and enjoying the process of learning the topic.
You’re Dead To Me moves away from that. It sees history as something to learn from, irrespective of whether you’re academically knowledgeable in history or you’re simply fascinated by it. This approach not only makes You’re Dead To Me a fun medium to learn from, but it also provides space for the audience to question and challenge normalized narratives that have prevailed throughout history.
All in all, I found this podcast to be funny, engaging, and enjoyable to listen to. At the same time, it has motivated me to question common perspectives on history.
A story about going through the “hell” of higher education
Juhi Kosamia
Katabasis, the latest novel by R. F. Kuang, follows the journey of two Cambridge post-graduates, Alice and Peter, who go to hell to bring their professor back. Alice and Peter’s descent into the underworld is the culmination of Kuang’s knowledge of Aristotle and Dante’s accounts. On the other hand, the
story also includes Kuang’s own interpretation of hell through the lens of logic and geometry.
As someone who frequently describes my student experience as “hell on earth,” the plot of students risking their lives for their degree was an instant buy.
Kuang crafted a story that shows the danger in the demand for students from higher education. From physical sacrifice, like having sleepless nights to complete schoolwork, to mental sacrifice, like the extreme lack of work-life balance, the story discusses the price of gaining knowledge in these institutions.
The protagonists’ commitment to bringing their professor back from hell is reminiscent of conversations I’ve had with fellow University of Toronto (U of T) students about how, “we will finish this assignment tonight, no matter what it takes,” after cracking open a third Red Bull of the day.
Prestigious universities often endorse endurance from students by making them feel special for doing so. Kuang argues that these institutions’ ability to make students believe they’re a part of something greater than themselves creates an illusion, where self-flagellation is justified for academic validation.
While Katabasis discusses the issues in academia, it also celebrates the insights of thinkers and theorists. For example, it references the French historian and philosopher Foucault and discusses the impossible staircase (a graphic paradox).
By framing philosophy and problems as tools that can help people navigate the world, Katabasis emphasizes that learning should not be gatekept. And Kuang personally demonstrates this concept through her writing. While the book dives into complex knowledge, Kuang illustrates it in a way that doesn’t make readers feel ignorant. Instead of showing her knowledge off, Kuang opens up space for readers to learn through sharing her knowledge and guiding readers through the depth of it.
Katabasis is a book that forces students to recognize their potential and pushes them to keep learning. Upon my own reading experience, it has inspired me to enrol in a sixth class this semester. Though it might mean that more time will be spent in the library, I am excited to take advantage of the privilege of learning and develop my own thoughts on various topics.
Illustrated by April Roy
The blind chase of efficiency is destroying humanity
Juhi Kosamia Contributer
Striving to better yourself is great, but when efficiency and productivity become the only goals, community gets left behind.
Stories of people rising from rags to riches reinforce the idea that speed and productivity are life’s greatest values. I argue that instead, efficiency has created a new problem: isolation.
While seeking self-improvement is admirable, the overemphasis on efficiency and productivity has led to people overlooking the necessity of community. This culture that celebrates shortcuts in the name of maximizing productivity has fostered self-
Arts
reliance at the expense of human connection.
Robert Putnam’s book Bowling Alone concluded that, increasingly over time, people would rather do activities alone than interact as a group. For example, instead of sitting with a problem and discussing it with someone else, many would escape the problem and avoid communication by seeking instant gratification provided by technology.
Technology has no doubt accelerated isolation. Television, mobile phones, and now generative AI can seemingly provide all the solutions and entertainment needed from the comfort of people’s homes. This “convenience” further reduces people’s incentive to communicate with others.
Time, too, is treated as a commodity too precious to be “wasted” on the complicated work of nurturing relationships or attending community gatherings. As Putnam notes in Bowling Alone, organizations once central to community-building continue to see declines in membership.
Also, rising living expenses push people to maximize income. Compared with so-called “less productive” activities like volunteering, many prefer to spend their time on pursuits that generate profit. What is often overlooked is that sincere dialogue and sustained efforts to build human connections foster trust and belonging. Without these elements, society risks falling apart, leaving people unhappy and isolated.
Efficiency is not inherently bad. It can produce a quick turnaround on tasks and inspires us to be innovative. But it comes with a great cost when efficiency becomes our only priority. In efficiency, everything is measured in terms of speed and output; here the “slower” aspects of life, such as un-
distracted conversations that shape our sense of belonging, are lost.
It is crucial to recognize and transform this situation, especially in the age of generative AI. AI lacks the critical thinking skills and empathy needed to understand human needs. Overreliance on these technologies in the name of efficiency can be devastating. For example, according to The Guardian, character.ai, a chatbot designed to simulate human personalities, has allegedly led a 14-year-old to take his own life.
This case illustrates the danger of mistaking artificial interaction for a genuine human connection. When young people, already vulnerable to feelings of isolation, turn to AI for companionship or support, they may receive responses that lack empathy, context, and responsibility. The illusion of efficiency (having an always-available “friend” who never tires or judges) can mask the absence of true care, guidance, and accountability. Such reliance on technology highlights how efficiency-driven solutions often neglect the complexities of emotional well-being, with devastating consequences.
To prevent such tragedies, community, care, and intentionality are essential. Taking time to be intentionally “inefficient” ensures that people do not rely on technology for the support that only humans can provide. AI cannot grasp human value and emotion, whereas we can.
As members of this generation, it is our responsibility to slow down, check in with those around us, offer help, and ask for help when needed. Otherwise, we risk losing our humanity to an empty, efficiency-obsessed society that drifts ever further from true happiness.
Editor | Yusuf Larizza-Ali arts@themedium.ca
How Crochet Is An Art With A Single Hook
Emma Catarino Contributer
The
UTM Crochet Club is one of the school’s newest art-centered clubs that aims to make crochet fun and accessible to all.
The UTM Crochet Club was created in 2023 and is one of the campus’s newest art centered clubs. The club encourages participation from all—even those with little to no crochet experience, offering two main experiences for its members. These include monthly crochet circles where members may work on any project of their choosing while working and talking with other members. As well as workshops that teach crochet skills, including how to execute different stitches, or how to create a “magic circle”. The aim of the Crochet Club is to foster a community where members of all experience levels can come together and express themselves through their crochet art. Despite being relatively new, the club has gained around 500 general members.
While most people wouldn’t see crocheting as traditional, it is very much an artform. Anyone who attended any of the Crochet Club’s events (or simply watched Tiktok during the pandemic) knows that crochet projects can be
much more creative than the doilies your grandmother makes. With a simple crochet hook and some yarn, crochet projects can range from clothing, quilts made of individual granny squares, or amigurumi such as plush toys. A single crochet pattern can also result in a multitude of project outcomes, as the artist can experiment with different variables. Yarn comes in many different sizes, colours, and volumes of thickness, from the thinnest worsted yarn used for micro-crochet, to the thickest, softest blanket yarn used for plushies. Crochet also utilizes different stitch types, which create variety in the texture of the fabric being created. A double/triple crochet stitch would be best to use if you wanted to create a mesh top, whereas a bobble stitch would be best if you wanted a texture with more volume.
As a crochet artist myself, I enjoy finding crochet amigurumi patterns online, but instead of following the pattern I study the picture of the final plush and do my best to replicate it in my style. This allows me to play around with size, plushness, and different stitch configurations to create my own unique product.
The UTM Crochet Club encourages this creativity by providing different yarn colours and hook sizes at their events. While participants are welcome to bring their
personal crochet projects to work on, the club also provides printed patterns of different crochet projects, with varying levels of difficulty. Those with more experience in the art of crochet also attend the club’s events as volunteers, walking around and assisting beginners when needed. I attended the club’s Halloween event last year, and my favourite part was towards the end, when all the attendees went in a circle and presented their near-finished projects. Everyone was so encouraging and enthusiastic about their work, proving that the club did indeed achieve their goal of creating a supportive environment for those who wished to express themselves using crochet as an artform!
Photo by Arina Lee
Illustrated by Sehajleen Wander
Venus as Torpedo A Journey of Complexity and Simplicity
Yusuf Larizza-Ali Contributer
The AGO’s new art exhibit conveys a bridge between cultures and a mix of different ideas.
Visual art present in art galleries such as sculptures is a great way to communicate complex ideas nonverbally through the use of material and design. On August 16, 2025 the Art Gallery of Ontario unveiled a new exhibit titled Venus as Torpedo created by Kanai (Blood) Nation sculptor Faye Heavyshield. The exhibit is based on a previous original installation from 1995 which has been re-staged nearly three decades later offering audiences the chance to revisit one of Heavyshield’s most impressive displays of memory, language and presence. The fact that this exhibit is being recreated at the AGO is significant in itself for marking HeavyShields first solo exhibit at the AGO, one of Canada’s largest and most popular art institutions.
This context results in HeavyShield’s work speaking not only to her own cultural narrative but opens the door for greater recognition towards Indigenous female artists within the Canadian art community. Venus as Torpedo demonstrates both continuity and resurgence, matching Heavyshields artistic style involving minimal aesthetics and a deep engagement with Blackfoot cultural traditions.
Faye HeavyShield was born in 1953 in the Blood Reserve, Alberta. She studied at the Alberta College of Art
and Design and has decades of sculpting experience. In addition to this, she is the recipient of the 2021 Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Distinguished Artist Award. Her practice is primarily characterized by combining the messages of restraint and resonance.
The piece Venus as Torpedo is simple and unsettling at the same time as it depicts clothing arranged across a structure resembling ribs that extends low from the gallery wall and rests above a wooden floor. The exhibit is made up of clothes, including garments from loved ones, used as the frames with each garment being hand dyed in red ochre; an iron rich pigment known for its reddish brown colour and distinctive warmth. The result of the clothing material is that the exhibit feels like it’s communicating to the audience using the voices of women of the English and Blackfoot languages prompting the viewers to feel closer. The piece is both bodily due to its material choice of garments and architectural through how the garments are assorted to create one structure. It grounds itself in the ideas of intimacy, family and language. The piece resonates even stronger due to its placement in the AGO’s Canadian and Indigenous gallery and bridges the Blackfoot traditions to a national audience in Toronto. This bridging of worlds highlights how indigenous voices have become central to conversations about memory
and land in contemporary art institutions.
Throughout her career, HeavyShield has had a signature practice of combining both restraint and resonance in her artwork. She develops her minimalist style by drawing from repetition, modest material and the Blackfoot worldview. HeavyShield has said “Blackfoot is my first language, art is my second,” emphasizing the idea that artworks like Venus as Torpedo are speaking to you via their material and design. The cloth, voice and red pigment are speaking together in a work communicating an idea of both the presence and absence of Blackfoot culture.
Venus as Torpedo allows HeavyShield to bring a cadence or flow of Blackfoot culture into dialogue. Its debut at the AGO affirms both her voice and the growing space for female Indigenous artists in Canada. The exhibit is available to be viewed through now until February 22, 2026.
The Legacy of Country Music in Canada
“ Aqeel Shahid Ullah Contributer
Taking a close look at the history of country music in Canada and young acts like The Reklaws.
Having originated in the 1920s, country music has an endearing legacy throughout the world. Typically associated with southern states in America, country music is also prominent in other countries, including Canada. While the genre consists mostly of older musicians, there are young musical acts as well, such as The Reklaws, who recently released a surprise single called “Bonfire on the Beach,” a song expressing concepts of friendship, celebrations and the little joys of life. This song not only shows off their musical journey, but it also
highlights how country music resonates with listeners, especially younger audiences.
Country music has a long history in Canada, having originated from Appalachian folk music and African American blues. The genre was popularized by those who played the fiddle, known as fiddlers, and helped country music gain recognition in areas like British Columbia, the Maritime provinces and parts of Ontario. As the genre continued to develop, it differentiated itself as prominent singers utilized a more unique and pronounced vocal method than their American counterparts. Canadian country music placed a greater emphasis on traditional narratives and ballads while American country focused on familial relationships, lover’s quarrels and bars, elements which are now typically associated with country music.
While country music is not as celebrated in Canada as it once was, young artists like The Reklaws have somewhat revitalized the genre, introducing it to a whole new generation. Formed in 2012, The Reklaws consist of siblings Stuart and Jenna Walker, who came up with their name by reversing their last names. In order to appeal to young listeners, they combined the traditional country sound with modern pop influences, which is a subgenre known as country pop. This style can be seen in most of their discography, including their latest release. The Reklaws released promotional singles like, “Kiss Kiss” and “Seeing
Stars,” in 2013 and 2014 respectively, before getting their first big hit with “Hometown Kids” in 2017, the lead single from their debut album.
Through their work, The Reklaws have shown that despite the genre being primarily associated with the American South, country music’s concepts are quite general, and it is malleable to fit with many different cultural contexts. The Reklaws attracted an audience by incorporating their identity as Canadians into their music, as many of their songs echo the Canadian experience, from ideals of compassion and inclusivity to the breathtaking beauty of natural landscapes like lakes and forests. This feeling of national pride can be felt in their music, which adds an air of genuineness that resonates greatly with listeners. By integrating their roots into their work, The Reklaws managed to expand the reach and relevance of the genre.
The long history of country music and its cultural relevance go far beyond its American roots, having a lively presence in many countries including Canada. The Reklaws have built upon this legacy and established that the genre still persists and continues to grow. Their success serves as proof of the flexibility and lasting charm of country music and its connection with listeners across the world, as a celebration of shared ideals and experiences that unite people together.
Illustrated by Arina Lee
Photo by Melody Zhou
10 sports & health
UTM Men’s Soccer Looking for Historic Double
Tyler Medeiros Associate Sports & Health Editor
Interview with Assistant Coach Kevin Iyamabo on his expectations for the upcoming season.
OnMarch 23rd, 2025, the UTM Men’s Indoor Soccer team captured their second successive Tri-Campus championship, following up on their trophy-winning outdoor season just one semester earlier. Now, as a new season looms ahead, the Eagles must find new ways to keep their success alive as they chase the first men’s soccer three-peat in campus history.
Catching up with Coach
On August 26, I sat down with Assistant Coach Kevin Iyamabo to discuss the team’s recent successes and their expectations for the upcoming outdoor and indoor seasons. Last year was Iyamabo’s first opportunity with the team in a coaching role. He had previously been a key defender on the men’s soccer team, but was never able to lift the championship during his playing career. Despite helping the team win both the outdoor and indoor championships last year, Iyamabo has doubts that the upcoming season may not be as successful.
“I think it’ll be pretty difficult to replicate what we achieved last year,” said Iyamabo “A lot of the key players we had last year graduated. We’re going to have to re-tool our team by integrating the younger, second-year players that are coming up.”
A constant challenge for university sports is replacing the quality and consistency of graduating students. One of Iyamabo’s main goals for the upcoming year was to identify the young talent at our school and help give them the platform to become the future leaders of the team. “We want to see promise from the young guys. Hopefully, we can get them playing significant minutes.”
Iyamabo was honest in his expectations for the season ahead. “It’s probably going to be a year that’s more about developing the players, trying to get them ready throughout the regular season for the playoffs, making sure we can develop them for future years as well.”
The coaching staff seem to be targeting sustained, long-term success over shortterm gains. This approach bodes well for new students who might be looking to try out for the soccer team in the future.
Making History
Editor | Joseph Falzata sports@themedium.ca
I asked Iyamabo what the team’s main goal was for the season to come. “The goal is always to win everything! We got our first outdoor Men’s Tri-Campus trophy last season, and once you’ve gotten a taste, you want it again and again.”
Although the Men’s team may not be expecting to win both championships, it will always be their ultimate goal. The team must get off to a fast start to the outdoor season if they want to keep their current unbeaten streak alive.
Message to the Fans
The final talking point from my conversation with coach Iyamabo was his message to the students and soccer fans at UTM. “It would be so amazing to see students come out and support their team. Let’s try to build a community feel at our matches.”
The men’s outdoor soccer season begins with a difficult home match against UTSG Blue on Sunday, September 14, 2025, at 2:00 pm on the South Field. Come support your fellow UTM students and help create a passionate fanbase as the men look to continue their impressive unbeaten run from last year. You can find the full season schedule on the UTM website and regular updates on the team’s results @utm_sports.
A Letter from the (Re)Start Line
Maryam Raheel Contributer
Beginning again with old roots and new resolve
Dear Future Me,
One year ago, I sat and watched as the dojang pulsed with movement through the wide glass window. The instructor’s signal demanded attention as the sharp snap of kicks, soft shuffle of bare feet against mats, and synchronized exclamations ensued. I instinctively followed their motions, fingers curling into a fist before an ache shot through my wrist. Clad in a purple cast, my right arm sat heavy in my lap. A second fracture meant another forced pause from the activities I enjoyed most.
Now, the cast is gone, the fracture healed, but the hesitation lingers. Weak from inactivity, I fear how much my strength has regressed. How could such a small joint disrupt the decades of training I’ve dedicated to this craft? Not only is it the driving force behind a powerful punch, it anchors my push-ups, reinforces my blocks, and impacts the way I steady myself in a stance. Without it, everything else unravels.
The number of classes I miss increases. Time softens the muscles once firm with discipline, stiffens my flexible limbs, and shatters my motivation. Returning to martial arts now feels less like resuming a routine and more like starting all over again.
Despite the setbacks, I feel a strong pull to return. Beyond the physical training and the myriad of benefits that come with it, martial arts has shaped my character and the person I am today. Regaining my strength also means rediscovering the patience, discipline, and mindfulness woven into this practice. The multifaceted nature of martial arts requires me to restore more than just strength; flexibility, stamina, and coordination also need improvement.
Conquering the mountain of training ahead is daunting. The physicality, coupled with the mental load of balancing these goals with school, starts to feel overwhelming. Between juggling early
mornings, late night study sessions, and all the deadlines, I question if I can truly dedicate myself to this journey. Still, a new term brings new goals and I must remind myself of what matters: progress not perfection. This summer was my first step back into that mindset. I gave myself the chance to experiment and learned what works for me. From preferring quiet morning workouts to finding comfort in athletic spaces again. With this foundation in place, I’m eager to set goals that go beyond just “getting back into it.”
At the top of my list is rebuilding strength in my wrist. Physically, I aim to train in this area twice a week, focusing on light dumbbell work and mobility exercises. Mentally, I’m working to unlearn the fear that I might re-injure myself. My goal is not just to move without pain, but to move without hesitation.
My next goal is flexibility, a newer part of my training. Months of inactivity tightened my joints and limited my
mobility to the point where a simple front kick has my limbs groaning in objection. I’ve set a goal to begin each training session with dynamic stretches and end with static stretches. I hope to regain a full range of motion in my shoulders and hips in order to sit comfortably in a deep front stance.
Finally, improving my cardio is a priority this year. Racing up the stairs in the Davis building to get to class in time leaves me winded – a clear indication of my dwindling stamina. With long drills and sparring rounds demanding endurance, I’ll begin with low-impact HIIT workouts and activities such as jogging and jump rope. While the goal is to do this twice a week, I plan to incorporate simpler methods into bettering my cardio; whether that be choosing to walk instead of drive, take the stairs, or play sports with friends.
To the version of me reading this at some point in the future, I hope you’ve returned to the sport we love. Not
as the person sitting behind the glass window, but as someone confident in their ability to keep up with their peers. I promise to stick to these goals, and I hope by now they’ve paid off.
